Day 3 - Mixed Open
With the series at 1 each, this set the tone for an exciting grand final. Australia won the tap off. 3 drives to the line, Tony Eltakchi scoops from dummy half, long ball to #15, Melissa Pitfield, try first minute 1-0 Australia.
NZ get their first touch of the ball at the restart. They make it to the 5 metre line, only to lose the ball on the fifth and final touch.
Australia return with good yards, advancing 60 metres down the field, but NZs defence is equal to the task and shut them out.
Both teams were finding it hard controlling the greasy, wet ball. NZ #1, Mohi Aupouri makes a break and throws a long ball to #16 Piki Hoskins who scores in the corner. 1-1.
Australia #1, Christian Frost runs from dummy half and breaks the NZ line, throws a long ball to #15, Melissa Pitfield but the ball goes to ground.
NZ #5, Josh Leota, tries the same play, breaks the Australian line, throws long ball to #2 Jordan Rogers-Rhind but the ball goes to ground.
Up steps #4, Ben Moylan for Australia, beats his man, throws a long ball to #9, Kristen Boss who scores in the corner. Score 2-1.
An excellent break from #12, Sean Brown who throws a long ball to #2, Jordan Rogers-Rhind, who scores for NZ. 2-2.
Great yards from Australia down the left hand side of the field which catches NZ off guard and #9, Kristen Boss scores for Australia in the corner. 3-2.
NZ restart at half way. #11, Wade Sharp passes to #2, Jordan Rogers-Rhind, who quickly passes back to #11, Wade Sharp, who then passes back to #2, Jordan Rogers-Rhind who scores in the corner to even the game 3-3.
NZ #13, Peter Vis steps his man, creates an overlap and throws a long ball to #16, Piki Hoskins who scores and takes NZ to a 4-3 lead.
Australia #7, Peter Norman, really steps up and breaks from half way to create an overlap and set up #15, Melissa Pitfield for the equaliser. 4-4. The tension is building and both side are giving it there all.
A great step from NZs #12, Sean Brown who beats his man and again throws a long ball to #2, Jordan Rogers-Rhind who scores in the corner for a 5-4 lead.
With 1 minute remaining, NZ #12, Sean Brown gets sent to the sin bin. Australias, Ben Moylan takes advantage of this and runs to the short side to create an overlap for #15, Melissa Pitfield, to score an even up the game and take it into a drop off right on the hooter.5-5
Australia tap off in the drop off, they get to the 5 metre line, #6, Tony Eltakchi makes a break but is unable to find anyone in the open to pass to and NZs defence shut him down. NZ get a chance to drive straight back at the Australians, make it to half way and the referee awards NZ with a penalty. NZ tap the ball and make it down to the 5 metre line but they take the wrong option and ball goes to ground. The 2 minute hooter sounds and both teams drop a player off to 4 a side.
Australia drives 55 metres in 3 settles and get NZ on the back foot. Australian captain, #6, Tony Eltakchi realises and takes advantage of this, picks the ball up and beats his man to throw a long ball to #9, Kristen Boss who scores the winning try to give Australia the Mixed Trans Tasman series 2-1.
Last Modified on 24/01/2010 12:01